Skip to main content
_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_new_FB_2018-Icons-finalized-cleaned-up_newGroup 9
Back
Scroll to top

3 Tips for Saving Money in Your 20s

Personal Finances 2 min read

Ready to talk to an expert?

Saving money in your 20s may seem like an impossible task, but did you know that your 20s is actually prime time to start setting money aside for you future?

If you’re wondering how to save money in your 20s, follow these three simple tips for managing your funds and setting yourself up for a financially successful future.

3 Important Money Saving Tips for Young Adults

1. Start an emergency fund. An emergency fund is one of the most important things you can establish in your twenties. Should you experience any financial hardships, such as unemployment, unexpected medical expenses, or an expensive car repair, your emergency fund will be there to cover you.

But how much money should you save? That depends on how much you spend each month. Money Under 30 suggests having at least three months of expenses saved up. You can use their Emergency Fund Calculator to get a better idea of how much you should be putting away.

2. Mange your budget. Take a close look at your budget—especially your entertainment budget—to see where you can cut back. Adults in their twenties often spend money on entertainment, like concerts with friends and weekend travel plans, and these areas are often where you can cut back the most.

The Penny Hoarder suggests taking charge in your group of friends and making sure your plans are reasonably priced.

3. Pay down your debt. Paying down your loans now will save you money in the future. Forbes recommends focusing on your emergency fund and retirement savings first, then paying off any debt with interest rates over 7%. For interest rates over 7%, you’re likely save more on interest than you would earn by investing that money. Always consult a financial advisor or debt expert before making decisions on consolidation or pay off.

Save Money with First Bank

Following these three simple money management tips is a great way to reach your savings goals. For more money management tips, check out First Bank’s Financial Education Center or contact us to learn more about our savings accounts.


———

Sources:

Betterment: https://www.betterment.com/resources/investment-strategy/strategy-investing-in-your-20s/

Money Under 30: http://www.moneyunder30.com/emergency-fund-calculator

PennyHoarder: http://www.thepennyhoarder.com/managing-money-in-your-early-20s/

Forbes: http://www.forbes.com/sites/financialfinesse/2014/03/06/should-you-increase-savings-first-or-pay-down-debt/#7ae4e10b33e6

Ready to talk to an expert?

Share:
First Bank’s Good To Know Logo
Sign up for our newsletter and be the first to know about new tips, insights, and products from First Bank.
First Bank may use this email address to contact you about products, services, and promotions.

You may be interested in...

Conventional Mortgage Loans Applying for a home loan can be a strenuous process, especially if you’re unsure which type of loan is the best fit for your financial situation. Before you apply, it is important to understand the two types of loans available to you: conventional mortgage loans and a government-backed loans. In this article, we’ll break down the basics of conventional loans. What are Conventional Mortgages? Conventional loans can have fixed or variable interest rates, which can be impacted by your credit score. Qualifications for conventional loans are usually stricter than government-backed loans because they carry a higher risk for banks and private lenders. If the borrower defaults on the loan, the banks and private lenders are not protected. These kinds of loans are not insured by the federal government, but they are still required to follow guidelines set by the Federal National Mortgage Association—a.k.a. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. A Conventional Loan to Meet Your Needs If you live in North Carolina or South Carolina and are looking for a flexible and affordable conventional loan,* look no further than your local First Bank. We offer both adjustable-rate and fixed-rate mortgages with a range of features and benefits that are sure to fit your specific financial needs. Conventional Adjustable-Rate Mortgages This kind of mortgage loan changes periodically depending on shifts in the corresponding financial index associated with the loan. ARMs generally have a lower initial interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages. Both your interest rate and your P&I (monthly principal and interest) payments will stay the same for an initial period of 3, 5 or 7 years. After that it will adjust periodically. Interest rate caps set a limit on how high your interest rate can go for your P&I payment for each adjustment and over the life of the loan. Loans are available for 30-year amortization schedules. Conventional Fixed-Rate Mortgages Your interest rate and P&I payments stay the same for the life of your loan. That predictability for your monthly P&I payments enables you to budget more easily. This kind of loan is available in a variety of loan term options, and it protects you from rising interest rates no matter how high they fluctuate. This option is good for individuals or 3 min read
Image for tile. 3 Steps to Creating a Strong and Unique Password In today’s world, passwords have become an important part of our daily lives. We use them for everything from social media accounts to digital banking, and endless apps in between. Although it is easy to choose the same short and memorable passphrase for everything, it can leave you wide open for risk if one of those platforms is compromised. Step One: Change It Up The first step to protecting yourself from data breaches is defining secure phrases for your different accounts in order to alleviate risk. The consider the following tips to remember when selecting a password: Make sure your password is at least 12 characters Include upper-case and lower-case letters throughout Avoid keyboard paths like 45678 or asdfg Add punctuation marks within the password not just at the end Step Two: Make it Meaningful While there is strength in a lengthy password, trying to remember an array of random letters, symbols, and numbers such as YP&3U6?@DM2$ may be difficult; therefore, it is beneficial to use phrases meaningful to you, but ambiguous to others. Instead of using easily predictable passwords containing information shared online such as birthdays, anniversaries, or family names, try relating it to your favorite hobby, food, or movie in order to better protect yourself. For example, creating a password that combines your favorite movie and the last 4 digits of your best friend’s phone number like PreTTyWoM@N2849! ensures that cybercriminals cannot effortlessly hack your account. Here is a chart designed to help you better understand how easily a cybercriminal can guess your password and the time it would take for you to be hacked. Step Three: Keep It Secret, Keep It Safe The more complex your passwords, the easier it is to forget a character and get locked out. So, what’s the best solution to keep everything straight and safe? Online: Storing passphrases on your phone or computer or sending them through email or text often seems like a convenient hassle-free solution, but it creates the opportunity for hackers to obtain private information. Offline: Writing down your passwords can be the safest way to store your information, but it is still crucial to not record them word for word. Sadly, fraud often times comes from internal sources 4 min read
What Do I Need to Open a Checking Account? What do you need to open a checking account? It can vary a little from bank to bank but there are typically some fundamental necessities needed to open a checking account. First Bank has five levels of checking accounts, each with varying conditions and capabilities. But let’s start with the basics that hold true for any checking account: What You Need to Open a Checking Account Identification. You will be required to show a picture ID in order to open a checking account such as a driver’s license, passport or military ID card. Personal information. Basic information such as name, address, telephone number, date of birth and social security number. Deposit. You’ll need a small minimum amount of money to make the initial deposit into the account. Clean record. Before opening a new checking account, a most banks will run a consumer report of your previous banking relationships to make sure you don’t have a record of charged-off accounts or fraudulent activity. A bank will sometimes allow you to still open a new account provided you repay the charged off account. Types of Checking Accounts Let’s take a look at First Bank’s five personal checking account options. Everywhere Checking. This is our most fundamental checking account. Everywhere Plus. This option allows you to earn interest on your balance. Everywhere Premium. Earn interest plus enjoy some additional perks such as an unlimited number of out-of-network ATM transactions with no First Bank fee. Campus Checking. Students under the age of 25 get the benefit of a checking account free of a minimum balance requirement and monthly maintenance fees. Senior Checking. Customers age 55 and older can be fee-free with direct deposit and get free checks. Contact First Bank Today Visit your local First Bank and one of our friendly associates will help you with what you need to open a checking account. Or use our Compare Accounts feature to see which checking account is right for you. Read more about this topic: What Is Required to Open a Business Checking Account?, Finance 101: Banking Basics. ——— Sources: Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/minimum-balance.asp 2 min read